Daily Archives: February 3, 2012

No, I haven’t gone X-rated with the blog, and this isn’t a political post either (although I could easily go there.) We’re on Step 5: You’ve got to TELL someone. And in the name of expediency, let me give you the magic gift in Step 5: SHAME KILLS. In sobriety I got a voice. In Step 5, I began to learn to use it fearlessly.

Today I want to honor that voice that I found in this program, and speak to an issue close to my heart. For years I have supported the Komen foundation with a small (and relatively insignificant) amount of my earnings, but I am committing today to take that money and donate it to my local Planned Parenthood. The Komen decision to remove funding from Planned Parenthood is short-sighted at best, and politically motivated at worst.

It’s tragic to see such a powerful organization make a decision so out of line with their mission. Komen is about saving women’s lives. So is Planned Parenthood. This choice takes a major step back to a time when the diseases that kill women were powerfully under-recognized, ignored, and completely under-funded. If you have ever loved a woman with breast cancer, a woman (or man) who could not afford adequate reproductive health care, I urge you to get on Facebook, Twitter, your social network and bring attention to this decision.

Here’s a look at what Planned Parenthood did for men & women in 2010:

Provided 11 million medical services for nearly three million people, and helped to prevent approximately 584,000 unintended pregnancies (with reversible birth control.)

Seventy-six percent of Planned Parenthood clients have incomes at or below 150 percent of the poverty level.

In addition to the education programs, numerous training programs were provided by affiliate staff and volunteers to nearly 80,000 professionals who work with children, teens, and young adults. Those trained included teachers, addiction counselors, group home staff, nurses, physicians, prison staff, rehabilitation counselors, and religious leaders.

In 2010, Planned Parenthood supported partners served 900,000 individuals in 10 developing countries with reproductive health care and education. In addition, they worked to raise awareness of international reproductive health and rights issues and mobilize support for responsible U.S. laws and policies.